Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29,774, Eli Edwards, Mass

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Edwards, Eli.
S. 29. 774
CONTENTS

6964
Massachusetts
Eli Edwards
of Northampton in the State of Mass who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Porter of the Regt commanded by Col Dupper in the Mass June for 9 Mos
Ms. & Coll.
Inscribed on the Roll of Spal at the rate of 30 Dollars in Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 9 th day of Mar 1833 and sent from J. Bates H of Rep
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1833 $60- Semi-ann. allowance ending 4 Sept " 15- $75-
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J H Blair Clerk Book D. Vol. 2 nd Page 48.
72 Hampshire

DECLARATION,
IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE BENEFIT OF THE ACT OF CONGRESS OF THE 7TH OF JUNE, 1832.
STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS, } ss. COUNTY OF HAMPSHIRE. }
ON this Eighth day of August 1832 personally appeared in open court, before Samuel Hinckley Judge of Probate the court of Probate now sitting, Eli Edwards a resident of Northampton in the County of Hampshire, and State of Massachusetts, aged 71 years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.
He enlisted in the year 1779 the last part of October as a private at Northampton in the company of Capt Joseph Clapp of Northampton. Lieut. Timothy Syman, Ensign Saunders, for 3 months & served said term, being discharged a few days before the time was out, but not able to reach home till the time expired. He marched through Blandford to Great Barrington & there stationed a week or more waiting for orders, thence to Claverick. & thence to Albany & there stationed in Col Chapin's Regiment. An Indian alarm called them out. Mr Simeon Clapp, Asahel Wright & Thomas Syman all of Northampton were in the same company, same service, the same length of time. He said Eli enlisted again the last of June in 1780 at Northampton for 6 months as a private in the continental service to fill up vacancies, mustered at Springfield in the camp under Lieut Miller, thence marched to West Point. There joined Capt Billy Porter's company, Col Tupper's regiment. lay at West Point a while, thence to Peekskill, & thence into the Jerseys as near the river as the army could subsist, laying at different places, thence He served said 6 months back to West Point. Simeon Clapp & Eleazer Alvord, both of Northampton were in the same service the same length of time, but Alvord was not in that regiment though often seen. A written discharge was given to him but it is lost. No written discharge was given the first time of service. Said Eli was born in 1760 20th of December, of which there is a record in the family bible. He has always belonged to said Northampton & can prove each term of service.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any State, or (if any,) only on that of the agency in the State of
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Samuel Hinckley Judge of Probate  Al Edwards
We, residing in the town of and residing in hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighbor- hood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the abovenamed applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that who has signed the preceding certificate, is  resident in and that  who has also signed the same, is a resident in and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Samuel Hinckley Judge of Probate
I, Samuel F. Lyman Register of the Court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Eli Edwards for a pension.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this eighth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two
Samuel F. Lyman  Register Clerk.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts. } Hampshire ss. }
on this fourth day of December 1832 personally appeared in open Court before Samuel Hinckley Judge of Probate of Wills, Eli Edwards above named who being duly sworn deponeth & saith that he entered the service above declared upon each time as a private & that he volunteered & enlisted each time & was never drafted - Rev Solomon Williams & Solomon Stoddard can testify as to belief of services & character for truth -
Eli Edwards
Sworn and subscribed this day and year aforesaid. in open Court
before me Samuel Hinckley Judge of Probate
We, Solomon Williams clergyman residing in the town of Northampton and Solomon Stoddard residing in Northampton hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Eli Edwards who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 71 years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion
Sworn & subscribed in open Court before me this 4 th day of December A D 1832.
Solomon Williams Solomon Stoddard
Before me Samuel Hinckley Judge of Probate
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the abovenamed applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Solomon Williams who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman resident in Northampton and that Solomon Stoddard Esq who has also signed the same, is a resident in Northampton and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Samuel Hinckley Judge of Probate
I, SAMUEL F. LYMAN, Register of the Court of Probate, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Eli Edwards for a pension.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office. this fourth day of December. in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two -
Sam F Lyman
Register.

Eli Edwards. 27
Abolition & Continental
1 st Term proved by application of Simeon Clapp & Asahel Wright
2 nd By application of Simeon Clapp & Eleazar Alword.
No 2 A 174

2/7/74
Eli Edwards
Mass
March 9 Month
No Clergyman Certified he was assigned why one cannot be obtained - States that he can prove his sum but has not done so.
Mr. Roll Col Sep 1870-6 Mths
1 Service must be promote ad $30-
Am. S.C. Bales
Charles P. Huntington Northampton Mass

BRIEF in the case of  Oliver Edwards  of Northampton in the State of Massachusetts  (Act 7 June, 1832.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court 2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? 3. How old is he? Seventy one
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days. As a Gen.     In 1778 3 Private Capt. Col. Clapp & -   79 = = 7 " - Col. Chapin   80 6 Col. Guppy  
5. In what battles was he engaged? None stated 6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Northampton 7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? no living witness, no evidence or proof - 8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Defective inform -
X  Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
D. D. Addison Examining Clerk.

29774 Rev INVALID.
File No. 29,774
Eli Edwards
Rev Rev
Act: June 7 th 1827
Index:—Vol. 9, Page 190
[Arrangement of 1870.]

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
Hampshire ss.
I, SAMUEL F. LYMAN, Register of the Court of Probate within and for said County of Hampshire, do hereby certify that Charles P. Huntington Esquire, before whom the annexed deposition was taken, was, at the date thereof, one of the Justices of the Peace within and for said County, duly and regularly appointed, and that the signature thereto annexed purporting to be his, I know to be genuine.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court, this eighteenth day of December A. D. 183 2
Samuel F. Lyman Register of Probate.

Inverness Clapp for Eli Edwards.

I Simeon Clapp of Northampton County of Hampshire Massachusetts aged 72 do testify depose & say that I have known Eli Edwards of said Northampton from a boy - In 1779 the fore part of October said Eli enlisted as a private soldier with myself in the company of Capt Joseph Clapp Lieut Timothy Lyman. Ensign Saunders to go to Albany - We marched through Glencoe to Albany & there we were stationed & served three months . Said Eli was in the same service & company with me in Col Chapins regiment & served same period of time - In 1780 the latter part of June said Eli enlisted as a private in the continental service to fill up vacancies & served six months in Capt Billy Porter's Company Col Tuckers regiment stationed at West Point. Peekskill & in the Jerseys. I was in the same company the same length of time Nov-26 th 1832, Simeon Clapp
Hampshire ss Nov 26 1832. Then personally appeared the above named Simeon a credible person & made oath to the truth of the foregoing instruments by him subscribed before me - At Chas. P. Huntington Justice of the Peace.

Eli Edwards Northampton Mass.
No. 29 74
De Prof.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Eli Edwards which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? Yes V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? Yes VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? Yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Yes in his favor IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? Yes - it has an inscription

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? no
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? no
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? he stated, he can prove it
XIV. †If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility?
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?
XVI. ‡Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? all answered except no 4 & 7
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
*QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____. For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."
x he must do so. His service on Col. Tappan's Regt is proved by the Rolls: If he cannot prove his service, he should produce the affidavits of a clergyman

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.
† QUERE XIV.  Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the affidavits must be properly authenticated, as above directed.
‡ QUERE XVI.  Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
or comply with the 12 interrogatories